Pakistan was reduced to 33-4 at stumps on a pitch devoid of grass as 14 wickets fell on an eventful opening day of the two-test series.
Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan pulled off a stunner to dismiss South African batsman Rassie van der Dussen during the opening Test in Karachi
Azam has recovered from a thumb injury that kept him out of the two-test series in New Zealand, which Pakistan lost 2-0.
Faf du Plessis is in Pakistan where South Africa are scheduled to play two Test matches. The first Test will start on January 26 in Karachi while the second will be played from February 4 in Rawalpindi.
The 36-year-old du Plessis is expected to form the nucleus of the Proteas batting in the upcoming two-test series which will be first for South Africa in Pakistan in over 13 years.
South Africa will now play two Tests against Pakistan at Karachi (January 26-30) and Rawalpindi (February 4-8), followed by a three-match T20I series at Lahore, beginning from February 11.
The South Africa squad, which includes 21 players, underwent their first COVID-19 tests soon after landing here on Saturday morning and according to their media manager, all the reports came negative.
Back from New Zealand after a disappointing tour which ended with a 0-2 loss in the two-Test series, Pakistan will now play two Tests against South Africa
The Proteas last toured Pakistan in late 2007 when it won the two-test series 1-0.
The first Test will be played from January 26 to 30 in Karachi while the second will be held in Rawalpindi from February 4 to 8.
Cricket South Africa has announced an extended squad of 21 players for the tour with premier fast bowler Rabada included in the line-up after recovering from an injury.
Experienced pacer Kagiso Rabada and all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius returned to the squad after skipping the series against Sri Lanka.
South Africa bowled Sri Lanka out for 211 in its second innings at the start of the day at the Wanderers, leaving the Proteas with a simple target of 67 to win.
Only one other batsman managed to hold off South Africa's pace bowlers on a Wanderers pitch that has been playing typically tough for batsmen. In just two days, 24 wickets have fallen.
The second Test starts on January 3 in Johannesburg.
Du Plessis' career-best score sent South Africa to 621 all out at SuperSport Park on Day 3.
The players, led by Quinton de Kock, raised their firsts after singing the South African national anthem before the start of the opening day at the Super Sport Park.
The BLM has gripped the world since the killing of African-American George Floyd's earlier this year in the US.
The wicketkeeper-batsman, who leads the side in white-ball cricket, was named the skipper of the Test team earlier this month by Cricket South Africa (CSA).
The tests, which form part of the CSA's Covid-19 protocol for the tour, took place on Wednesday and Thursday.
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